Conejitos / Bunnies

I tried some new design on my last 2 cups, bunnies! I used blue underglaze instead of black and once they were fired I just covered completely with blue celadon glaze. Which was much more faster than coloring every single thing of the cup and then glazing it. However, i do enjoy the bright colors of the birds, I will try some new design with colors.

Also I have to say that I am still learning with this mishima technique, I had learn in the past that if I add a little of slip to the underglazes they will not run or bleed on the cone 6 kiln. However the color will not be as bright as it were without the slip. I have also learned just a couple days ago thanks to Diana Feyt video on Creativebug is that if I water down the glaze it will not run either, I should have know that since I water down the underglazes when I colored my birds, I was thinking only on a watercolor effect though.

The second thing I have leaned is that she recommended to use a natural sponge, I have yet to try that, I have to buy one first. I will tell you if I feel a big difference or not.

Anyhow, here they are, tell me what do you think, any suggestions and comments are very welcome.

Vermillion Flycatcher Cup 2 / Taza Turtupilin 2

Here is the second cup. What do you think?  Maybe I should also do a Teapot...

Vermillion Flycatcher Cup 1

As I said before, I am making cups, trying different things with them. . . and of course I like birds. This is cup with two vermillion flycatchers, I am a bit obsessed with them. In Lima we call him "Turtupilin", this bird has many names, it is also called "putilla", "mosquero", "mosquero sangretoro", "mosquero cardenal", and many more, I like turtupilin, sounds good too me. I miss it, there are not vermillion flycatchers or Turtupilines in Florida.

Perhaps the thing that I like most is the black mark around its eyes, is like they are wearing an eye mask, I find the raccoons also  incredible cute. I should draw them as well.

I draw two turtupilines, as a way of practice, I like mishima more and more every time I try it. Someone at the studio said something that make me think, she said she loves the birds but she will love them even more if they would be able to talk like Rodolfo and the cats, and it is true. When I draw them, their train of thoughts are in my head,  for example the fat one is thinking of eating the dragonflies, just waiting for the right time to ZAZ! his behavior is being observed by the other bird, who is also thinking, that that bird needs to be on a diet. However, everything is just in my head, only Rodolfo and the cats have been able to said their thoughts aloud. I wonder how can I make them talk....

What do you think of these birds? So far they have help me to increase the likes on my Facebook page, which makes me very happy. If you want to like it as well click  Barro y Arena. and like my page. It will be very appreciate.

Thank you !

Florida Summer Cups

Lately, I have been making cups, many cups, cups with different decorations, carving, mishima, sgraffito. I am also trying a new handle, something different, something that also will be easy to replicate. I am not there yet. I am trying different things with the mishima technique, thinking what if I have to make many of the same, would I be able to make them in a short period of time or would it take me forever?

The cups below are called "Florida Summer" and they are a colorful version of my "Inca Summer" which are brown with sgraffito. The design is almost the same, but the colors make them look so different.

Why cups you may ask, because I would say, it seems that every gallery is doing a Cup Exhibit, and I want to be part of that, so I am practicing, making as many cups as I can and select later the best ones and apply to those exhibits. So far I have been accepted to one gallery and turned down by another one. Makes me sad to read: "... Unfortunately, we have not selected your cups...." However I think that I should keep trying, someday those galleries, will say yes to me.

Later when the exhibit is open and available to see online, I go and check the selected pieces and compare them with mine, sometimes mine don't look so bad, sometimes they even look similar to some of the accepted ones, and then I wonder why they say no to me. I guess I will never know. Maybe is ok, since on the other hand they didn't tell me why I was accepted either.


Anyway, here are the cups, what do you think?